Courtesy photo
The Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth recently underwent some improvements to one of its entrances to enable greater accessibility. Here, Rob Levey, director of development and communications for the center, poses with client Dawn-Marie at the new entrance.

PORTSMOUTH — Seacoast Mental Health Center (SMHC) recently completed a construction project in which the rear-side entrance of its Portsmouth office and adjoining hallways were widened and modified to increase access to the building.

The project was made possible through a Portsmouth Accessibility Grant Program funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Department of U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

SMHC’s Facilities Manager Dan Young called the project “ambitious” and cited the impact it will have on its Portsmouth office at 1145 Sagamore Ave.

“It was very difficult for people in wheelchairs to gain entry into the back portion of our Portsmouth facility,” said Young. “This grant enabled us to make structural modifications we would not have been able to do otherwise … I’m just grateful there were funds available for something like this.”

According to City Manager John P. Bohenko, SMHC’s project directly aligned with CDBG’s funding priorities.

“This project is a great example of how CDBG funds can be used in support of the Seacoast Mental Health Center’s mission and to insure that all members of our community have access to their building and services.”

For SMHC Client Dawn-Marie, the project has made entering the building much easier.

“It feels great because I can enter the building without a bunch of people helping me inside,” she said, “It’s very empowering.”

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, SMHC is a state-designated community mental health center and provides comprehensive psychiatry, counseling, case management and psychological services to residents located within the eastern half of Rockingham County.